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I don't recall them ever having been quoted as saying "recast her" so much as "recast everyone except Hunter and Nimoy".

Inside Star Trek, Star Trek Memories and other books and articles have said that the NBC brass had a specific problem with Majel beyond her below average acting abilities, that problem was her relationship with Roddenberry.

If she hadn't been attached romantically to the married Roddenberry it's unlikely she would have obtained the role in the first place.

Did I say otherwise? I said there's no record that I know of where NBC said "recast HER" specifically. They said "try again" for all but two of the cast. They zeroed in on Majel as Gene's bit of neoptism, but nowhere have I seen a record of "Keep the character, change the actress."

__________________

* * *

"There are three kinds of men. The one that learns by reading. The few who learn by observation. The rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.
—Will Rogers

Dorothy Fontana, in her Pike-era based novel, Vulcan's Glory, has Number One reveal to Pike that she comes from a planet of genetically engineered women, and that she was literally the Number one female intellect of her generation

The Executive Officer. Never referred to as anything but "Number One," this officer is female. Almost mysteriously female, in fact -- slim and dark in a Nile Valley way, age uncertain, one of those women who will always look the same between years twenty and fifty. An extraordinarily efficient space officer, "Number One" enjoys playing it expressionless, cool -- is probably Robert April's superior in detailed knowledge of the equipment, departments, and personnel aboard the vessel. When Captain April leaves the craft, "Number One" moves up to Acting Commander.

So it seems that the original intention was for her name to remain a mystery. We never learned the real name of Get Smart's Agent 99 either.

Campe98 wrote:

. . . Early Voyages say her last name is Robbins and her first name begins "Eu--."

Just dug out "Flesh of my Flesh", and Pike gives the start of her name as "Eure-". I went looking for possibilities a while ago and found 'Eurena', which is the name I give to Lt. Commander Robbins.

In my continuity, she got her much-deserved promotion to Captain and was in line for the Enterprise, before Fleet Captain Pike offered her the first Titan-Class long-range explorer, a bigger and newer ship which looks remarkably like the Enterprise redesign from "Planet of the Titans".

Dorothy Fontana, in her Pike-era based novel, Vulcan's Glory, has Number One reveal to Pike that she comes from a planet of genetically engineered women, and that she was literally the Number one female intellect of her generation

Which is essentially the personal character background that Majel Barrett created for herself when preparing for the role. She mentioned it in a "Starlog" interview, IIRC.

So it seems that the original intention was for her name to remain a mystery. We never learned the real name of Get Smart's Agent 99 either.

IIRC we eventually learn 99's last name. There's an episode were Max and 99 visit 99's mother and Max refers to the mother by her last name, it's the same episode where we learn 99's father was also a spy.

IIRC we eventually learn 99's last name. There's an episode were Max and 99 visit 99's mother and Max refers to the mother by her last name, it's the same episode where we learn 99's father was also a spy.

"I did not know that."

__________________“All the universe or nothingness. Which shall it be, Passworthy? Which shall it be?”

IIRC we eventually learn 99's last name. There's an episode were Max and 99 visit 99's mother and Max refers to the mother by her last name, it's the same episode where we learn 99's father was also a spy.

And at the end of the episode ("99 Loses CONTROL") 99 explains that "Susan Hilton" is only a cover name. 99's real name is never revealed, even at their own wedding in Season Four.

Wasn't the mother only ever referred to as "Mrs 99" or "99's mother"? ("Sheroes: Bold, Brash, and Absolutely Unabashed Superwomen" by Varla Ventura.)